A Blog of Personal Essays and Reflections on Grammar and Writing

Harper’s Comedic Adviser

Rabbi Robert Alper of Vermont beat out more than 4,000 people from 47 different countries who submitted jokes in a contest organized by the Pontifical Missions Society called “Joke With the Pope.” The contest was supposed to promote engagement with the Pope leading up to his visit to the U.S. Here’s Rabbi Alper’s joke:

“My wife and I have been married for over 46 years, and our lives are totally in sync. For example, at the same time I got a hearing aid, she stopped mumbling.”